A three-year-old girl is attracting attention with her travels through all the national parks in the country.
GETTYSBURG, Penn. – The National Park Service said it had been notified of two separate incidents of vandalism at Gettysburg National Military Park in Pennsylvania and, according to police, had now identified the person involved.
According to a National Park Service (NPS) press release, park staff reported that several large boulders at Little Round Top were sprayed with graffiti on August 15. Visitors to the battlefield reported that the historic War Department observation tower on Oak Ridge was sprayed with graffiti on August 19.
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The National Park Service has released a photo showing the graffiti before and after it was removed from Little Round Top rock in Gettysburg National Military Park in Pennsylvania.
(National Park Service)
However, national park officials said all traces of vandalism had been removed by staff by August 20.
“We were deeply shocked when these two incidents of vandalism were reported within days of each other,” said Kristina Heister, director of Gettysburg National Military Park, in a press release. “We were concerned that the graffiti carved into the rock might still be visible for future generations.”
Heister said she was grateful to the staff who restored the sites so travelers could continue to experience the national park in its original state.
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FILE – A 10-pounder Parrott rifle is part of the memorial to Battery B of the 1st New York Light Artillery at Gettysburg National Military Park August 11, 2020, in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
(Getty Images)
“They are truly the heroes of this sacred ground,” Heister said.
The NPS said visitors are asked to help park staff by immediately reporting any cases of vandalism or other illegal activity.
“We cannot do this alone,” Heister continued. “The vandalism of irreplaceable historic objects and structures that belong to all Americans should be of concern to everyone. We all have a responsibility to protect and care for this special place, and everyone is a steward of Gettysburg’s heritage, history and resources during their visit.”
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UNITED STATES – November 19, 1863: Crowd around President Lincoln at the cemetery in Gettysburg where the Gettysburg Address was delivered (Photo by Buyenlarge/Getty Images)
(Getty Images)
NPS officials said the Gettysburg County Police Department also investigated several incidents of vandalism throughout the county and at Gettysburg College, and police said Wednesday they have identified a person they believe is responsible for the incident.
“The person responsible for the spray painting in the county and national park has been identified,” police said in a statement. “Both Gettysburg Police and National Park Rangers would like to thank the public for their assistance.”
